Computing on the Cloud Jason Detchevery March 4 th 2009

Introduction What is cloud computing? –When computing services are provided over the Internet rather then locally on a user’s own machine. –Computation is run on an supporting infrastructure which is independent of the applications themselves. –The infrastructure can take on many forms, but to the end user, the implementation is irrelevant, hence the “cloud” abstraction. What isn’t cloud computing? –Cloud computing does not necessarily include grid computing, resources as a utility, or self managing computing. –Each of these can however be used in some cloud computing systems, but cloud computing can also be done with free and decentralized architectures.

Types of Cloud Computing Services Software as a service –Software is provided to end users in an “On-demand” fashion. –Reduces upfront costs, i.e. buying multiple licenses –“Utility-based” computing Infrastructure as a service –An “infrastructure” referring to much of the background hardware (contrast to software) needs of an organization Platform as a service –When the software needed to develop cloud applications are themselves provided in a “software as a service” fashion

Software as a service A common problem: –Business software installed on a work computer cannot be used from other computers (home, mobile computers) because the EULA doesn’t allow it (licensing costs) –Remote access a possibility, but issues with uptime, security… –Instead the software is abstracted to a cloud application which can be accessed anywhere via cloud client (e.g. web browser) Features of Software as a Service: –Commercial software that can be used and configured over a network, file servers and remote configuration storage, one application used by many clients, application updateability.

Software as a service: Types Multi-level architectures: –Level 1: Customized, Ad-hoc basis –Level 2: Configurability –Level 3: Configurability + multi-tenancy –Level 4: Configurability + multi-tenancy + Scalability Virtualization in contrast with multi-tenancy

Infrastructure as a service Components of Infrastructure as a service: –Computing hardware E.g. Client Storage Space, Processing power needs –Virtualization E.g. VM Ware, VirtualBox –Networking Security, communication speeds, servers –Internet Access Connecting clients applications to servers anywhere –Utility Computing E.g. Charging by hour, gigabyte, process load –Contracts Specific service levels which must be adhered too.

Platform as a service Implements the “Software Lifecycle” on the cloud. Common S.E. practices: client elicitation, software design, component design, implementation, testing, maintenance, data handling and documentation How does it work? –Cloud servers allow not just hosting of completed application, but applications in progress –U.I. design tools right inside the web browser to use them –Provides testing in real situations: heavy client loads –Automatic integration with other data sources on the cloud –Tools for the developers to work efficiently with one another –Profit simulations

Clouds: Heavier than you think A lot of constituent elements are necessary to make Cloud Computing work: –Cloud applications –Cloud clients –Cloud hardware –Cloud platform –Cloud services –Cloud storage

Example: Google Apps Cloud Application (Google Docs) Cloud Client (Mozilla Firefox) Cloud hardware (Apps Server) Cloud Platform (Apps Engine) Cloud Services (Word Processing) BigTable Cloud storage (BigTable DB)

Cloud Architecture Heavily relies on communication and communication protocols Standards are implemented openly (publicly) to aid collaboration between services Software designers are “cloud architects”, software is integrated into the cloud system by a “cloud integrator” API’s extremely important –“Without APIs, there is no cloud computing.” – Dave Rosenberg

Role-based Cloud Computing Providers –Responsible for creation and maintenance of the hardware infrastructure which supports cloud computing applications. Developers –Responsible for the creation of software to be ran on a cloud computing system. Often works with provides for integration. Users –Responsible for the consumption of cloud-computing services. Vendors –Responsible for creation and distribution of lower-end platforms for cloud computing.

Ideal Cloud Computing Low cost for users and providers Independence of device and software Efficient utilization of all resources Constant, or near-constant uptime through the use of resource distribution Ability to continually add new users and applications by easily increasing resources when necessary Data is secure with policies to protect its security

How to keep the clouds floating Cloud Computing issues –Security of providers access to user data –Trustworthiness of providers –Security of data placement –Security of data representation –Recoverability of data –Tracking of illicit activities on the cloud –Long-term costs of cloud development –“Vendor” lock-in

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